At a glance
- Separation
- Three line positions apart
- Pure hexagram
- Subject top; Counterpart third
Definition and terminology
Subject is selected through the eight-palace rules, with Counterpart three positions away. Both retain relationship and movement labels. Subject is not always the first line, and Counterpart not always the top; coin-face counts do not choose them. The roles create a relational framework whose concrete meaning requires a question and convention.
Structure and rules
A pure hexagram commonly places Subject at the top and Counterpart at the third line. Other palace-sequence positions move Subject; wandering and returning types have special rules. Identify affiliation and sequence before installing the pair. Keep six position numbers visible and distinguish this use of generation from actual ancestry or relationship labels.
Worked reading
In a pure Qian teaching chart, mark the top as Subject and the third as Counterpart, with Xu earth and Chen earth. For comparing two drafts, assign current and alternative drafts explicitly before reading. Shared earth classification does not establish identical contents, intentions or a guaranteed successful collaboration.
Context and limits
Traditional readings compare generation, control, combination, strength and movement, but these are not direct detection of a person’s thoughts. Different questions assign different roles; modern project language is an application analogy. Preserve positional rules and role conditions rather than making claims about an uninvolved person’s intention from Counterpart alone.
References & further reading
Historical sources document ideas and rules of their time, not empirical proof of predictive accuracy. Source notes identify the nature and scope of each reference.
- 《增删卜易》Primary / tradition source
Public-domain Six Lines text; page includes modern transcriber additions, so use the original numbered chapters for attribution.